Denmark has announced a new significant donation to Ukraine, including 5.6 billion Danish kroner for military support, including air defense and ammunition. This donation is part of the 18th package of support from Denmark to Ukraine, with half of the amount earmarked for air defense systems. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen (V) stated after a meeting in the Foreign Policy Committee that Denmark continues to stand as one of the leading nations in terms of military support to Ukraine, measured per capita. “It is a quite large package, currently we are the country pro rata that provides the largest military support to Ukraine,” he said. Of the 5.6 billion Danish kroner, 2.4 billion Danish kroner are specifically allocated for improving Ukraine’s air defense. Ukraine has been in a defensive position since Russia’s invasion more than two years ago, and the lack of modern military equipment such as planes, tanks, and artillery has been a major challenge.
A portion of the donation will also go towards the purchase of F-16 fighter capacity, although it is still unclear when these aircraft will be delivered to Ukraine. “Everyone knows that Ukraine is in desperate need of better air defense. We don’t have anything, but we have the resources. We have put that into this package,” added Rasmussen. Thursday’s package also includes funds for artillery pieces, grenades, anti-tank mines, and equipment maintenance, which is essential for its long-term effectiveness on the battlefield. Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen (V) emphasized that Denmark’s contribution will be directly felt on the battlefield. “As part of this donation package, we have now earmarked an additional one billion for direct purchases from Ukrainian defense industry companies,” he said, adding that it makes sense to produce the weapons locally to future-proof Ukraine’s defense capability.
This strategy will not only support Ukraine’s defense but also strengthen the country’s economy and independence in the production of military equipment. “And my clear expectation is that equipment purchased in Ukraine will be cheaper than if we were to buy from other countries,” concluded the defense minister. With this new financial commitment, a total of 64.8 billion Danish kroner has been allocated for military support to Ukraine from 2023 to 2028 through the so-called Ukraine Fund.